A Secretive Heron

The only way this Agami heron (Agamia agami) could be any more beautiful is during that time of year when it has filmy powder-blue "nuptial plumes" trailing down its neck. That's a once-a-year occurrence when the agami enters into courtship. Recent Lodge guest Frank Buck took this photo in December and although somewhat early for courtship plumage, it still shows what an attractive bird it is.

Even for a heron, the Agami has an especially long thin bill, and likes swampy forested areas as opposed to open water. Around Chan Chich Lodge, that would mean along Chan Chich creek and Laguna Seca are good places to look for it.

While Laguna Verde is a lovely spot, those of you that know it would agree that it is probably a bit too open for this forest-loving species. Even though the Agami can be rather secretive, it is a sought-after species by birders, and as this image proves, it is very possible to get a good look at it.

A Bare-throated Tiger-Heron

I was talking with a guest at Chan Chich Lodge a few nights ago, who was absolutely ecstatic at having added 4 "life birds" to her list during her stay. She'd been all over the world, so to get new birds for her life list was really noteworthy. Turns out that one of them was the Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma mexicanum).

I dug this photo out of Ben's files, taken near the River Trail. Yes, it is a Bare-throated Tiger-Heron. What's interesting is how widespread across Gallon Jug Estate they have become. When we first came to Gallon Jug in 1990, I can't recall seeing them. Or at least not often. Eventually they were added to the bird list here, but what's noteworthy is how many habitats on the property they seem to like. You can reliably see one or two around the Gallon Jug Farm near the culverts, along the road edge ditches, and evidently, near Chan Chich's River Trail as this camera trap image shows.